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Bedtime in Preschool-Aged Children and Risk for Adolescent Obesity

Sarah E Anderson1, Rebecca Andridge2, Robert C Whitaker3

  • 1Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|July 19, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Establishing early weekday bedtimes for preschool children significantly lowers their risk of adolescent obesity. This crucial sleep routine is a modifiable factor for preventing childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Sleep Science
  • Obesity Prevention

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern with long-term health implications.
  • Early life routines, including sleep patterns, are increasingly recognized as potential modifiable risk factors for adolescent health outcomes.
  • Maternal sensitivity has been explored as a factor influencing child development, but its role in sleep and obesity risk requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between early childhood bedtime and the risk of adolescent obesity.
  • To determine if maternal sensitivity modifies the relationship between preschool bedtimes and adolescent obesity.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from 977 children in the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development.
  • Preschool bedtimes (mean age 4.7 years) and maternal sensitivity were assessed.
  • Adolescent obesity (mean age 15 years) was defined by sex-specific BMI-for-age ≥95th percentile.

Main Results:

  • One-quarter of preschoolers had early bedtimes (≤8:00 p.m.), with obesity prevalence of 10%.
  • Children with late bedtimes (>9:00 p.m.) had a 23% obesity prevalence.
  • Early bedtimes were associated with a 52% reduced risk of adolescent obesity (RR=0.48; 95% CI: 0.29, 0.82), irrespective of maternal sensitivity (P=0.99).

Conclusions:

  • Preschoolers with early weekday bedtimes are significantly less likely to be obese in adolescence.
  • Establishing consistent, early bedtimes is a practical, modifiable strategy for obesity prevention in children.
  • Maternal sensitivity did not appear to influence the protective effect of early bedtimes against adolescent obesity.
Abstract

Keywords:
epidemiologylongitudinal studymaternal sensitivityparentingprospectivesleep

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